10 indispensable iPhone apps for IT administrators

There are many sophisticated iPhone applications that can simplify your life as a system or network admin. Michael Kassner highlights his favorites.

Working while mobile is becoming a requirement for IT administrators. I see two choices. Either carry a notebook and data card or use a smart phone with equivalent capabilities. Apple's iPhone, with the following applications, make that decision relatively simple.

1: Analytics App ($5.99 US and rated 4+)

This application (Figure A and Figure B) gives immediate access to Google Analytics, allowing prompt feedback on Web site traffic. Using this app is easier and quicker than the actual Analytics Web site. For more information, visit the Inblosam, LLC Web site.

Figure A

Figure B

2: LogMeIn Ignition ($29.99 US and rated 4+)

I use LogMeIn extensively, yet I balked at getting this app because of the price. Then I thought why not use my iPhone instead of a notebook and expensive data card? All of a sudden, 30 dollars didn't seem like much. If you aren't convinced, LogMeIn offers a free trial of Ignition (Figure C) on its Web site.

Figure C

3: Network Utility Pro ($0.99 US and rated 4+)

This one offers a lot of capability for one dollar: Ping, TCP/IP port scan, GeoIP lookup, and Whois query. All the utilities work well, with the exception of GeoIP lookup. It never provided the correct location. For more details about Network Utility Pro, refer to Codepacity's Web site. Figure D and Figure E show the available utilities and the results of a Whois query.

Figure D

Figure E

4: Network Ping ($3.99 US and rated 4+)

Network Ping is a series of network tests (Ping, Ping a subnet, Traceroute, and Telnet) ported to the iPhone. I prefer this app over Network Utility Pro when it comes to Pinging. It remembers past queries. For more detailed information, check out MochaSoft's Web site. You can see the available utilities and the results of a trace route in Figure F and Figure G.

Figure F

Figure G

5: RDP Lite (Free and rated 4+)

RDP Lite is a helpful application when dealing with networks containing Windows XP Pro, Vista, or Windows 7 computers. It allows remote access of workstations, solving all sorts of logistics issues. RDP Lite is another application from MochaSoft. Figure H and Figure I show the configuration page and the log-on window.

Figure H

Figure I

6: SIO to Go (Free and rated 4+)

Cisco has a project called Security Intelligence Operations. It is a global threat-monitoring network. Zeek Interactive, along with Cisco, developed an iPhone app that delivers SIO early warning intelligence, threats, and Cisco-built solutions. The app also allows you to check the reputation of an e-mail or Web site address (Figure J). Figure K shows current security items of interest.

Figure J

Figure K

7: Snap ($1.99 US and rated 4+)

Simple Network Area Prober (SNAP) locates all active devices on the network. It displays both IP and MAC addresses, as well as services of each device found. It's a great tool for network administrators who need to keep track of devices. 9Bit Labs is responsible for this handy app. Figure L and Figure M show an in-process scan and the results.

Figure L

Figure M

8: Speedtest Pro ($0.99 US and not rated yet)

Speedtest Pro is a simple application for evaluating the bandwidth of the iPhone's 3G, EDGE, or Wi-Fi connection. Several bandwidth apps are available for the iPhone, but few register latency. This app was developed by Xtreme Labs. You can see a completed test and a comparative history in Figure N and Figure O.

Figure P

Figure Q

10: WifiTrak ($0.99 US and rated 4+)

WifiTrak scans for available Wi-Fi networks. The app displays a list of networks, prioritized from most usable (open and strongest signal) to least usable (secure and weakest signal). The application was developed by Bitrino, Inc. Figure R and Figure S show the ranking of available networks and specifics for the mjvn network.

Figure R

Figure S

Two more iPhone apps

Where are most device labels? On the back, of course. Instead of struggling to see the label, I reach around with my iPhone and take a picture. And being older, I find small print is getting tough to read. That's where the iMagnify application comes in handy.

There are occasions when I wish I had a flashlight with me. While researching this article, I came across an app called Flashlight. It's not perfect, but it's better than the iPhone's regular display.

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About Michael Kassner

Information is my field...Writing is my passion...Coupling the two is my mission.

rather than spending $30 on LogMeIn have a look at 2x Client/RDP
it has a mouse as well, and 3 keyboards, QWERTY, Function and shortcut and you can right click as well, best of all its free. I have 9 servers added and saved on my iPhone and iPad

Will these apps install/run on an ipod touch? A colleague just acquired one and the wifi is incredible, more sensitive than the Mac he uses that sits about ten yards from the access point. That one drops wireless on occasion, but so far the touch is rock solid anywhere it goes.
To my eyes the touch is nothing but an iphone without the phone, true? In that case the sole distinction would be the iphone carries it's own internet connection (via ATT, meaning "when available") But most of the apps if not all look like they'd work in an environment where the internet/network access is provided by a wifi access point.
Anyone know? (I can't talk the fellow into trying, he's new to the touch and so far uses it for tunes, weather and some contact info...)
If these would work on the touch, I absolutely would get one, I can't think of anywhere I'd use these tools where the phone connection would be necessary.

Any of you familiar with the forums over at ZDNet are well aware Linux leaves the telnet port "wide open by default," so I suppose #9 is a good idea, so's you can close the door to keep the pigs from getting out of the barn...
But seriously, SNAP looks like a simple arp scan, which is just about the most useful tool to get started with ever invented.
Reading this list makes me want to get an iphone, not that I'd use a cell phone (who needs the radiation to the head) but at arm's length, and in such a small form factor these apps look like contenders.
Only thing is I'd need to borrow glasses from Bubbles to see anything:
http://www.thecoast.ca/images/blogimages/2009/09/17/1253194372-bubbles.jpg

Hello everyone, I need a new smart phone. I love both. But I need one thats great for I.T. I work in I.T. and I need to know which is best Droid or IPHONE, or are they about even. Thanks for your help.

I saw your review of LogMeIn Ignition and wanted to let you know about another solution, free NTRconnect Remote Access for iPhone and iPod touch.
NTRconnect is here with all the security, speed and ease of use that LogMeIn Ignition boasts. No hefty price?no sale price?just free. Access
your Mac or PC from anywhere as though you were sitting right in front of
it.
Would you consider reviewing it? Download it at www.ntrconnect.com or you
can find it at the Appstore.
1. Download NTRconnect for iPhone from the App Store to your iPhone.
2. Go to www.ntrconnect.com.
3. Download the NTRconnect agent to the computer you want to access.
4. Follow the Wizard-driven installation process.
5. Start NTRconnect iPhone to immediately connect to you computer!
Using NTRconnect is simple:
? Access the NTRconnect Home page and enter your account data.
? Select the computer you want to control
? Remotely access the computer selected
LANGUAGES:
English
Spanish
French
German
Italian
NTRconnect Free meets the needs of those who require simple remote access
and control of up to two computers.
When you sign up for NTRconnect, you'll automatically get a 30-day free
trial of NTRconnect Pro remote access. If you decide that NTRconnect Pro
offers more than you need, continue with NTRconnect Free at no cost.
NTRconnect Pro is a total remote access solution with advanced features
like file transfer, remote start up, key card access and Skype Integration.
With NTRconnect Pro you can connect to as many computers as you need. Our
affordable pricing plan includes volume discounts and you can pay month to
month or save 30% if you pay for a 12 month subscription.
Share your digital photo albums, music and video files, or anything you
keep on your Mac or PC (Windows or Linux)
Improve productivity and save time - get to your remote files and
applications in seconds. Keep in touch. Answer e-mails; attend to your
customers and colleagues at any time. Access your intranet at any time. You
can access your corporate intranet as if you were sitting right in front of
your office computer.
Enjoy 24/7 unlimited mobility - access your work or home computer from
anywhere. Avoid unnecessary travel. You never have to go to the office to
access e-mail and files on your work computer or run home to retrieve a
file. The ideal tool for executives and sales reps. Designed for
professionals who need to access their computers when on business trips or
just out of the office.

Thanks for providing this resource for IT admins and for including LogMeIn Ignition as part of it. As a quick point of clarification, due to the way the App Store works, the iPhone version of LogMeIn Ignition cannot be offered as a free trial. Those interested in learning more about Ignition can visit https://secure.logmein.com/welcome/iphone/ to view a demo, read reviews, and connect with other users.
Thanks,
Kevin Aries
Community Relationship Manager, LogMeIn
www.Facebook.com/LogMeIn
www.Twitter.com/LogMeInNews

You are right indeed, the iPod Touch (lets call it iTouch) is just an iPhone without the mobile phone thing and integrated microphone. The last generation of the iTouch can also use the headsets with integrated mic for apps like Skype and Fring. When I had my iTouch, I had some of the applications mentioned in this article, plus some other ones that I mentioned in my first reply, thus making the device my pocket IT swiss-knife. Basically, like the author said, the iPhone OS platform is a very very useful device for the tech guy, I would have one if I was still doing consulting.

Using linux since RedHat6 and never got that... Can you explain where you got that idea? And btw, why use telnet with *nix os's when you have ssh!? In fact, the only use I can think of for telnet is to connect to some small appliances (routers, printers, etc) or to telnet a specific port of a TCP/IP service for troubleshooting.

Linux leaves the telnet door open? I've been running Linux for years. I can't speak for all installs, but since at least Debian 3.1, telnet isn't even running on the server unless you specifically install it. In fact, I believe on Ubuntu you don't even have SSH server installed unless you tell it to. There's been an effort on the part of Debian and Ubuntu, and probably many others, to move people away from telnet and to ssh. Apparently, many people are not aware that anyone running a network sniffer on the same network where someone is using telnet can watch the password go across in the clear. That's just the way telnet was designed.
Unfortunately, Windows machines come with telnet installed but not ssh, so people will sometimes enable telnet on the Linux servers. Better practice by far is to install Putty or some other SSH program for anyone who actually needs to access the server, and leave telnet off.

I have an Archos (Android) and an iPhone. IT-wise, I think they have similar apps. I like the iPhone better for the quality of the apps (personal opinion). Besides, it has so many other apps that I consider must have now.

I use ITap RDP Client on the iPhone. Costs about 1/2 what Logmein costs (11.99 so still a bit $) but works great. Its fast and keyboard input is really nice the way the app handles that. Has FIPS compliant security and support for NLA. The bottom line is its actually very usable. I tried several before going with this one, however didn't give the logmein app a try.

I have been using logmein free for a year now.(Our company is using it for more than 1 year).
i can connect to multiple computers with no limitation, can copy/paste, can even disable user's monitor and keyboard and mouse.
the downside is. they removed the grouping function. we kinda need that since we are supporting our external offices in the middle east so grouping them by country is great.
but found a work-around. i just renamed the computer name so that the country name will be the first word. then just sort alphabetically.
as for the iphone app, yes kinda expensive. but i believe its worth it.
but would suggest not installing it.. Why? you will have an instant Overtime :D

If that works, it might as well be a phone! I read very good reviews of skype on mobile, I used it almost exclusively on my PC now.
I can always call 911 on my super-cheap pay-as-you-go cell phone. That one only cost me 15 cents a month to maintain, if I'm not using it!

The ipod touch devices I've seen looked exactly like an iphone sans phone.
I think I might just pick me up one of these critters, after the property tax and home owner's insurance bills are paid and my wife's whole house water filtration system project is done and paid for... maybe June? (year withheld)

Nice article. You covered a lot of good apps.
It's not specifically an IT tool, but I found jailbreaking the iPhone was the best thing I ever did. It allows a complete overhaul of the locked down UI, full mutlitasking support and a myriad of other powerful features, tools, and apps that make my mobile life easier. And, it's easy to go back to default if necessary.
For SSH, I like both iSSH and TouchTerm.
iSSH is an awesome swiss-army knife that I just found. It handles telnet, ssh, vnc, and X11 tunneling. It supports custom key macros, saved sessions, and multiple concurrent connections within the app. The features on the roadmap are pretty exciting (connection wizards, NX Compression for X, a native X Window Manager port, Windows RDP, etc.)
http://www.zinger-soft.com/iSSH_features.html
As a network and security guy, I like the Cisco SIO To Go app for Day 0 threat activity information.
I like snap and wifitrak for basic tools, but Stumbler Plus is more powerful. I have nmap, ngrep, netcat, tcpdump, and others available from the cli using either a local console or ssh client connected to localhost.
Enjoy...
Jim

I prefaced my comments with 'those familiar with the forums at ZDNet...'
There's a world class troll over there going by the name of "Loverock Davidson" that is in fact either Linus Torvalds or Steve Ballmer having fun. No other explanation for the lunacy this fellow spews.
Every chance he gets he slams Linux, always refers to the other as "Microsoft Windows" (always spelled out in full) and almost always makes the unfounded statement that Linux is insecure because it "leaves the telnet port wide open by default."
I have been an exclusive Linux user in my shop since 1998, and my current 'large account' efforts are toward greater Linux presence in the SMBs I service. (though the times have me servicing individual's crudded up windows computers a lot lately)
Anyhoo, this LD character gets the new comers all the time. People try to reason with him, and often get hot under the collar when he never, and I mean never, backs up a single statement he makes with fact one.
I haven't even seen telnet installed on an out of the box distro since probably 2002. Yet this LD keeps harping on it, despite hundreds of people asking him to back up the claim.
Didn't mean to get anyone's hackles up, one of my own resolutions for 2010 is to get the blood pressure down... which if I were encountering LD for the first time right now would have been an abysmal failure not a week into the new year. (he's quite effective until you catch on)
I have another question about this article, I'll post separately so it'll get noticed...

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge and try it. I bought the app and whilst I don't use it on regular occasions, it is great to have it for that little emergency when you just need to see what the error message is on the screen or navigate someone's computer out of trouble.
It blows a lot of clients' minds that I can drive their computer through my phone when they're in a different country.
Regular use? Probably not. Get out of jail card? Definitely.

I agree 100% about the jailbreak. Also pleased to know about iSSH & Stumbler Plus.
I already use Touch Term and the various console tools, as well as Backgrounder & Pro Switcher for the multitasking. Going to have to step up to the 3GS soon for the increased RAM :D

I used to make fun of people responding to LD by making cracks about how he reeled in another one, and so on!
But I just feel sorry for the poor respondents that fall for his tripe now! :(
However, I can be fiendish when prompted ]:)

You are among the smallish body of folks who's posts I always read, you have a good tendency to make me (and others if they have a propensity...) think.
Like recently I was touting scroogle and mentioned their policy of expunging records in 48 hours. You asked how do I know that's true...
um.
Making folks think = all good. =D
I tried to use a non-sequitur approach to LD but he never responded. He seems to never respond unless his name is mentioned.
We should keep trying though, something has to push his buttons... unless it is in fact Steve Ballmer or Linus having fun.

and over here too(of course); I read your posts over there a lot!
If I had time, I'd use physiological warfare on LD, but he is brain dead. I suspect that is on purpose. Maybe if I come up with a tactic, I'll relate it, but I usually enjoy using other techniques on the other folks there.
I've been pleasantly surprised as of late, though. Seemingly, there is a new breed of argument, that actually listens to some form of logic, and my quips have back fired on me, as of late.
I feel I should have engaged more intelligently with some of these new folks there!
As far as LD - (s)he is not nearly as much fun as Mike Cox(of course), but I bet we could have some fun with "it" if we put our heads together. HA!!
Thanks for you contributions to both sites here; I really appreciate it!

time permitting, you could issue a security reliability report? Like you don't have enough on your plate already!! =)
Logmein has a good security track record for now, any upstarts would have to build a reputation, the way I look at it.

I once worked for the government. In that case, I couldn't in good conscious waste tax payer money by buying a product that I wasn't %100 sure of, no matter the price.
But in the case of corporate money or even my own I wouldn't fret too much over a sub $50 purchase.
:)

About 99 cent apps and I don't think it should be that cheap but somewhere in the middle.
It is a business expense and has a coolness factor for a client but I don't have a client that can't wait for another tech to get near a computer and use showmypc for free. I have never had a client say if I have to wait 30 mins for a call back I am taking my business elsewhere.
Would rather put the $30 towards taking a client to lunch and saying thanks for all the support.
It's just not an app that is going to get used so much it justifies the cost, at 10 or 15 you don't have to think about it.
As far as the Tom Tom well that's pricey in my mind but atleast that would be used on a dailey basis.
Just my 2 cents.

You made some good points. That is why I love reading comments. What works for me, may not for others. This is one of the best ways to learn that.
The Tom Tom app is surprisingly close. I do know that I like Tom Tom over Garmin. The one issue is that it is a huge download, taking so long it will not allow you to do it using 3G.

Yeah, interesting way to look at it. Though I think it's a bit of a 'new' application which I think may lack what another $100 dedicated device may offer. I have a TomTom as well and still use mine though I hacked my iPhone and have the xGPS now (voice , GPS driven - not triangulated) and it was free. Works pretty well for free. I really can't provide a response to how well TomTom on the iPhone works. My only criticism would be that there's no transfer of the unit...it's YOUR iPhone, so if your wife wanted to go on a trip with the girls she'd have to take your phone as well. A dedicated unit would allow you to let her borrow it and you don't lose your phone in the process. I guess this is all a matter of preference. $100 is pretty steep for an application though another comment made on here is that buying apps is not unlike buying software for your home computer and $15, $30, or $100 is a steal in the software world. - just a thought

I'd be lost without logmein. It is the only completely finished product that I've found, that has top security in mind. You can go through any firewall including some of the tough ones, and not have to worry about violating the clients security or mine either.
The logmein support team seems to be very conscientious and competent, and development is always ongoing to improve the server service, and GUI.
So far I really like the Pro2 product and have had very good experiences with it. My clients are simply gob-smacked at how well it works, while keeping client side security as a top priority.
I must admit, if I were on the go, I'd actually buy the iPhone just to get logmein as a feature! I would need to be able to talk to the client at the same time as using logmein though; I assume this is possible - from what I see about it on AT&T commercials.
I don't work for any person or company besides myself(disclaimer)

Whilst I understand that it is a lot of money and I thought twice before buying it, I don't really understand why people don't want to pay more than 99 cents for an app on the iPhone. It's not as though it's a piece of software that should have been included on the iPhone. Software packages on the PC are a lot more than that.
Surely the $30 is a simple business expense. I think I've only bought 2 apps for the iPhone and Logmein was one of them.

It wasn't $30. Give me a break, that's a lot of money for an app.
I don't care how good it is, I would imagine there are a lot like me that won't spend $30 on an app.
I really look at the paid apps but if it is over $15 I dont even read the description. Maybe I am to cheap but I didn't get an iphone so I could continuously spend money on it.